Nigeria’s 36 governors will meet on Wednesday to discuss the controversial financial autonomy to judicial and legislative arms in states.

This is contained in a statement by NGF Head of Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, on Monday in Abuja.

Mr Bello-Barkindo said the governors already made efforts in all states to either constitute State Accounts Allocation Committees (SAAC) or inaugurate them.

He disclosed that the committee was preparatory to granting full autonomy to the two arms of government at the subnational level.

The Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) had since embarked on a nationwide strike on the issue.

He added that the governors had been working day and night to establish modalities for autonomy in conformity with the constitution’s provisions.

He further said the governors would also be updated on the activities of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, who headed the governors’ interface with the committee.

Mr Bello-Barkindo explained that the meeting would also review the agenda of the National Executive Council (NEC), which would take place a day after.

“Other items on the agenda include the regular update on the States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability for results (SFTAS) to provide states’ status on their DLI’s and upcoming deadlines.

“The meeting would also receive a presentation from the director-general, Bureau of Public Enterprises, regarding unlocking liquidity through sale/optimisation of state-owned redundant/sub-optimal assets,” he said.

He added that the Policy Development Facility (PDF) bridge programme would also discuss diversification and non-oil export opportunities for states in the post-COVID-19 era.

(NAN)